Lock



July 18, 1933. E NOR H 1,918,979

LOCK

Filed Dec. 15, 1930 INVENTOR. we Z0 M67172,

fl' 66615: 7 Q 71/9 1 090, MJ MQ A TTORNEYS. m

Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN W. NORTH, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL LOCK 00., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCK This invention relates to locking mechanisms in which are incorporated both latching and locking devices.

It is frequently desirable to have a locking mechanism which will automatically latch itself upon the closing of a lid and yet which may be securely looked upon occasion. For example it is preferable to have a lock of this character upon a cedar chest or similar container where it is desirable to maintain. the

lid tightly closed at all times but not necessarily locked at all times.

It is the purpose of: this invention therefore to provide such a combined latch and lock which may be economically and readily manufactured in quantities, which is simple in construction, and which involves relatively few parts.

In accordance with this invention a com bined latch and lock of the barrel type is will be had from the following description given in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a combined lock. and latch constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the cover, barrel, and plunger removed, illustrating a the latch in unlocked position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the center of the lock illustrating the same in unlocked but latched position.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation with the cover removed, illustrating the combined lock and latch in locked position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transversesection illustrating the combined latch and lock in latched and locked position.

Fig. 7 is a detailed end elevation of one of the locking tumblers.

Fig. 8 is a detailed'perspective of another locking tumbler.

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the keeper plate.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a key suitable for use in the combined lock and latch.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevation of the plunger, and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section through the barrel.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the entire latching and locking mechanism is housed within a casing or shell 1 which has a center depressed portion terminating in two lateral flanges 2, an inturned upper flange 3, and a lower inturned flange 4:. A cover plate 5 encloses the center recess formed in the shell to provide a closed chamber within which the latch and locking elements are mounted. A cylinder 6 is riveted to cover plate 5 and constitutes a support for a plunger or key barrel 7 The outer end of the cylinder is spun over as at 8 to engage the reduced outer end 9 of the plunger to retain the plunger within the cylinder. Plunger 7 is also provided with a reduced inner end 10 which passes through a keeper plate 11 and engages an aperture in the wall of shell 1 whereby the plunger is supported for reciprocal or axial movements.

Within the casing is rockably mounted the keeper plate 11 which is preferably formed of a fiat sheet of material generally rectangular in shape. One end of the plate is formed with a right angle flange 12 the two corners .of which terminate in a pair of tongues 13 which extend parallel to the body of theplate. Tongues 13 engage in apertures cut in the end wall 4: of shell 1 as can be clearly seen from Figure 4, whereby the plate may be rocked about tongues 13 within shell 1. The upper end of the plate is provided Wltll an inturned tongue 14 which limits the rocking movement in one direction. The upper end of the keeper plate is also provided wlth an serted and turned will rotate tumblers 23 and I ward movement of plunger 7.

aperture 16 which is adapted to receive the hooked end 17 of a keeper 18 in latched relation to prevent withdrawal of the keeper when in latched position.

The upper end wall 4 is provided with an aperture 19 which permits entry of the hooked end Not the keeper into the casing. The keeper plate is normally maintained in latched position by a coil spring 21 surrounding a pin 22 and disposed between cover plate 3 and keeper plate 11. Pin 22 passes through an aperture formed in keeper plate 11 and aids in the prevention of lateral movement of the keeper plate while permitting latching movements. The keeper plate may be unlatched by movement of plunger 7 to theleft as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to prevent a h, means are provided for preventing in The locking means comprises a pair of tumblers 23 and 24. The upper and lower ends of tumbler 24 are provided with slots 26 and 27 which engage pins 28 and 29 respectively thus permitting vertical sliding movements of tumbler 24 and preventing transverse movements thereof. Tumbler 24 is also provided with a locking tongue 31 bent at right angles to the tumbler.

Tongue-31 is of proper length and is so dis-' posed as to be engageable with the shoulder formed by the junction of the smaller inner end 10 and the enlarged portion of plunger 7 when the lunger is in retracted position and prevents inward movement of the plunger.

Tumbler 23 is pivoted upon pin 29 and overlies tumbler 24. Tumbler 23 is provided with a hooked or partly closed slot 32 adapted to receive a finger 33 formed upon tumle r 24 whenever tumbler 23 is in proper position, i. e., when the opening in slot 32 is brought in alignment with finger 33 by rotation of tumbler 23 about its pivot .by the Insertion and turning of a key. At all other times the upper end of tumbler 23 will engage finger 33 and prevent either upward or downward movements of tumbler 24. A leaf spring 34 having one end attached to tumbler 23 is provided to maintain the two tum-, lers in eitherlocked or unlocked position. Plunger 7 is slotted as ,at' 35 in the usual manner to receive a key 36 which when in- 24 about pin 29 against the action of spring 34 to bring slot 32 in alignment with fingers 3 to permit either locking or unlocking movements of tumbler 24; That is, tumbler 24 will be rotated by turning of the key which engages the side or edge of the tumbler in the usual manner to slide tumbler 24 and move tongue 31 into or outpf the path of movement of plunger 7. The locked position is shown in position is shown in Figs; 3 and 4. In order to seal the lock to prevent the of the shutter in unlatching movements pf keeper plate 11, that is, in order to lock the b 20 to nomical manner very keeper plate rockably 'ingsaid plate toward Figs. 5 and 6, while the unlocked matically hermetically closes the key slot and accordingly the lock upon withdrawal of the key. The shutter comprises a U-shaped leaf spring 37 having its cross-bar portion disposed across the key slot to close the slot and its two legs disposed in slots cut in the plunger. To insure positive sealing contact the key slot-the plunger is also provided with a small transverse bar leading into the key ,slot within Which is a coiled compression spring 38. Spring 38 bears against shutter 37 and resiliently urges the same against the side wall of the key slot to hermetically sealthe same.

It follows from the above that there has provided a combined latch and lock een which is hermetically sealed, which will automatically be latched and which may be locked if desired. The construction-employed is very simple .and requires a minimum number of parts each of which is formed in an ecoadvantageous to quantity production.

It is obvious that the complicity of the key required in looking the latch may be increased by any desired number of tumblers and that other modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: i I

1. A latch comprising a casing, a keeper plate having a pair of tongues projecting from one end thereof, said tongues being rockably secured to one wall of said casing, means for normally urging said keeper plate into latched position, and a plunger for moving said keeper" plate into unlatched position, said plunger being slotted to receive a key.

2. A latch comprising a casing, a keeper plate, one end thereof being provided with an inturned flange, said flanged end being rockably secured'to meansfor normally urging said keeper plate into latched position; and a plunger for moving said keeper plate into unlatched position, said-plunger being slotted to receive a key.

3. In a combined latch and look, a casing having a central recess therein and terminating in a pair of laterally disposed flanges, a secured to said casing and lying within the same, a cover plate for inclosing said recess, a cylinder secured to said cover plate, a spring for normally urgone wall of said recess,

one wall of said casing,

a plunger reciprocably mounted within said.

cylinder and having a bearing in said casing and having-a portion thereof within said casing adapted to engage said plate to impart unlatching movements thereto and a tumbler for preventing movements of said plunger.

4. In a combined latch and lock, a casing,

a keeper plate rockably secured to said casing, a spring for normally urging said plate into latched position, a cylinder secured to said casing, a plunger reciprocably mounted within said cylinder and having a portion thereof within said casing adapted to engage said plate to impart unlatching movements thereto and a tumbler having a projecting finger adapted to intercept movement of the plunger when in looking position.

5. A latch comprising a casing, a keeper plate having an aperture therethrough and rockably secured at one end to said casing, means for normally urging said keeper plate to latching position and a plunger having a reduced portion extending through said aperture and a shoulder engaging said plate for moving said plate into unlatched positirlm, said plunger being slotted to receive a :ey.

6. In a combined latch and lock, a casing,

I a keeper plate rockably secured to said casing and lyingwithin the same, a cover plate for inclosing said casing, a cylinder secured to said cover plate, a spring for normally urging said plate toward one wall of said recess, a plunger reciprocably mounted within said cylinder and having a bearing in said casing and having a portion thereof extending within said casing adapted to engage said plate to impart unlatching movements thereto and a tumbler for preventing movements of said plunger;

7. A latch comprising a casing, a keeper plate having an aperture therethrough and fulcrumed at one end to said casing, means for normally urging said keeper plate to, latching position a plunger extending through said aperture and having a portion engageable with said plate for moving said plate into unlatched position, said plunger being slotted to receive a key, and a key operated tumbler movable into position to prevent unlatching movement of said plate by said plunger.

8. A combined latch andlock comprlsing a casing, a keeper plate fulcrumed at one end in said casing, a spring for urging the free end of said keeper plate into latching position, a cylinder projecting from the front of said casing, a plunger mounted for reciprocating and rotating movements in said cylinder and casing and projecting through an 5 aperture in said keeper plate, said plunger having a shoulder engageable with the front face of the keeper plate for moving the plate into releasing position against the action of said spring, and a lock tumbler in the casing rearwardly of said plate for preventing op eration of said keeper'plate by said plunger, said tumbler being operable by a key guided by the plunger and projecting through said plate.

EDWIN W. NORTH. 

